There’s something that’s been going on my mind for a while and that and it's very opportune on Earth’s Month: I’ve been thinking a lot about how we humans consume goods at a predator pace and all the trash we generate in the process, leaving everywhere our indelible polluting footprint. It’s April, and in the Pacific Northwest we’ve recently had several days with hail and sun, all in the same day. To me, there’s no doubt that this is due to climate change, and this urges me even more to make a shift towards a more ecological lifestyle.
Once again, I found myself starting to look for ideas that I can apply in my daily life to make a positive impact on our environment. My problem, every time I try to take on this mission, is that most of the actions seem so complicated that I end up feeling overwhelmed and with no concrete plan to start.
So, this time I tried to focus on changes that I know I can make, even if they’re small or very simple to start, but hopefully I’ll be able to go for more from there, and it’s always better to start and do something than just stay the same.
Here’s the list of actions that I’ll implement into my daily life, effective immediately, in hopes of being more ecologically conscious:
Compost.
Switch from Ziploc bags to reusable bags or containers.
Eat less meat. 1-2 times per week.
Switch from cow milk to plant-based alternatives.
Start using a soft cloth to remove my makeup instead of cotton balls.
Research how to dispose of difficult items, such as Styrofoam or electronic items.
Shop smarter. Look for more ecological products and brands to replace what we regularly use.
While making my list of actions to take, I realized that there are some things I'm already doing. In case anyone can get one or two ideas from there:
Recycle. Though I’m feeling like I don’t do a good enough work, since sometimes I’m not sure on whether some items go into trash or recycling. Also, one of my goals is to use less plastic.
Repair damaged items to use them longer. While I’m not able to repair every damaged item, I try to do this with as much items as I can.
Donate items I don’t need anymore.
Be a part of a “Buy Nothing” group. These are hyperlocal Facebook groups, which you can join to gift stuff you don’t use and that someone else can need, and at the same time you can ask for an item you need, so you don’t have to make an unnecessary purchase.
Use reusable bags for shopping.
Take plastic bags to a collection point. Most of the grocery stores have them.
Avoid paper waste. I opt to get electronic statements and bills, as much as possible. Also, I try to use all the sheets of my notebooks and both sides of printer paper. When we’re done with those, usually we can recycle or give them other uses.
Cook at home. Ok, I eventually go to a restaurant or order takeout. But I cook at home most of the time. It’s healthy, tasty and saves money!
Use reusable water bottles.
Think before buying anything if I really need it or just want to have it.
What actions can you recommend to us? What actions are you planning to implement?
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